Ore-mixing machine.



N0. .7|3,694. Patented Nay/.18, I902.

J. P. SCHUCH, 1n; ORE MIXING MACHlNE.

(App) t nfl1dMy21 1902) 2 Sheets-Shea l.

(N0 Model.)

Patented Nov. l8, [9.02.

(Application filed May 21, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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ens-Moons MACHINE;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,694, dated November 1.8, 1902.

Application filed May 21,1902. Serial No. 108,428. (No model.)

To (bZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN PHILIP SoHuoH, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Oripplecreek, in the county of Teller and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Ore-Mixing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to ore-mixing machines, and particularly to that class adapted for use in connection with a process of extracting precious metals from their ores through the medium of a cyanid solution.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the agitating mechanism and the means for supplying the air to the mixing-tank to effect aerating of the solution.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel construction and combination of parts of an ore-mixing machine, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof, and in these drawings- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a mixing-machine constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a View in vertical transverse section. Fig. 3 is a detached detail View of a slightly-modified form of driving mechanism for the agitator-shaft.

The machine of the present invention is an improvement on an ore-mixing machine for which I obtained Letters Patent of the United States, dated December 18, 1900, No. 664,059.

The agitating mechanism shown in the above patent is normally rigidly secured to the agitator-shaft, connection between the two being eifected by means of set-screws or the like, such as are commonly employed for the purpose. Thus in case it is desired to lift the agitating mechanism for any purpose the securing means must be loosened before this can be effected. Under the arrangement of the present invention the agitating mechanism, while being positively held against any rotary movement independent of the agitator-shaft, is normally free to move vertically thereon, so that in the event of the necessity arising for the agitators to be lifted from the mixing-tank this may be elfected by reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft, the agitating mechanism being so constructed that the resistance presented by the contained pulp will cause it automatically to rise. In addition to the above change in construction over the arrangement shown in the said patent and as a matter of further and specific improvement there is combined with the agitator-shaft means for holding the agitating mechanism suspended above the mixing-tank. In the said patent the pipes for supplying air to the mixing-tank for aerating purposes discharge at a point above the bottom of the tank and, While being thoroughly efficient for the purpose designed, will not operate positively to keep the meshes of the strainer free for the escape of the solution to the draw-off pipe. In the present invention and as a matter of further and specific improvement in addition to the air-pipes shown in said patent there are provided a plurality of air-pipes that discharge upwardly beneath the strainer, and thus operate to keep the meshes thereof at all times clear for the free passage of the solution.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a mixing-tank, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction, and is provided at the center of its bottom 2 with an upstanding tubular sleeve 3, in which works the agitator-shaft 4., the said shaft being stepped at its terminals in bearings 5 and 6, secured, respectively, to the ceiling and the floor of a room in which the machine is located. That portion of the agitator-shaft within the sleeve is circular in cross-section, and thence upward to a point near its upper terminal it is polygonal in cross-section, as shown at 7, this polygonal portion being engaged by a spider 8, the hub 9 of which is free to slide thereon. The spider is shown in this instance as provided With four arms 10, the extremity of each of which carries a traveler-wheel 11, adapted to run upon a circular track 12, se-

cured near the upper end of the tank, as

- clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The arms of the spider carry each a plurality of depending agitator-bars 13, which are by preference vertically disposed within the tank and terminate a short distance from the bottom thereof and are held out of contact therewith by the traveler-wheels 11. Each arm 10 is herein shown as provided with three of the agitator-bars; but it is to be understood that this number may be increased if found necessary or desirable. vTo the agitator-bars are secured a plurality of beaters or stirrers 14, in this instance three in number, which are arranged at an angle to the said bars, each series of beaters being disposed in breakjoint order with relation to the adjacent series, by which arrangement positive and thorough agitation of the pulp within the tank will be effected.

The upper terminal of the agitator-shaft is reduced in diameter, as at 15, to receive a four-armed support 16, which is loose upon the shaft, and above the support is secured a drive-pulley 17, around which passes a belt (not shown) to a suitable source of power. This driving means may be supplemental to the main driving mechanism at the lower portion of the agitator-shaft, which latter comprises a miter-gear 18, secured to the shaft, and a similar gear 19, meshing therewith and mounted upon a shaft 20, carrying a beltpulley 21. Instead of employing a belt-pulley at the upper end of the shaft, as shown, this may be dispensed with and a miter-gear 22 substituted therefor to be engaged by a similar gear 23, carried by a shaft 24, driven from a suitable source of power, this latter being shown in Fig. 3.

To facilitate entrance to the tank for the purpose of cleansing the same when desired, a plurality of manholes 25 are provided near its lower end to be covered by caps 26, disposed on the outer side of the tank, the caps being clamped in position by a clamping-bar 2'7, engaging keepers 28, secured to the tank or otherwise.

The strainer, to which reference has been made, comprises a false bottom 29, which may be formed of coiled pipe, as shown, or of strips of wood and fibrous sheets 30 and 31, resting on the said bottom, the sheet 30 by preference being of cocoa matting and the sheet 31 of canvas; but it is to be understood other materials may be employed for the purpose and still be within the scope of the invention. Secured to the track 12 is an airsupply pipe 32, which may connect with any suitable source of air under pressure, and connecting with the supply-pipe is a series of branch pipes 33, (clearly shown in Fig. 1,) which enter the tank above the upper fibrous sheet of the false bottom, as shown in Fig. 2, said pipes being provided with valves 34, by which to control the passage of air to the tank as requisite. These branch pipes, as usual, operate to aerate the contents of the tank and are shown and described in the patabove referred to. In addition to the branch pipes just described there is a second series of branch pipes 35, which discharge upward through the bottom of the tank and beneath the strainer, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, said branch pipes carrying valves 36 for controllingthe passage of air therethrough. The air from these latter pipes operates to keep the meshes of the strainer fabrics cleared from any accumulation of slime or the like, thus to facilitate escape of the solution. The bottom proper of the tank has connected with it a valved draw-off pipe 37, which leads to a suitable separator. (Not necessary to be shown.)

In the operation of the machine the agitator-bars and beaters or stirrers will operate to stir up the pulp within the tank and thoroughly incorporate the cyanid solution therewith, which is supplied to the tank from a pipe 38, communicating with a suitable source of supply. If from any cause the machine has to stop for such a length of time as would result in the mass of pulp in the tank setting, and thus rendering breakage of the agitating mechanism probable should it be started up, this is obviated by lifting the agitating mechanism to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and may be effected by reversing the direction of rotation of the agitating mechanism to cause it automaticallyto rise, whenit may be held in its ele vated. position by a chain or chains 39, secured around the arms of the support and those of the spider 8. When the machine is started up, the agitating mechanism may be gradually lowered by the employment of b1ock-andtackle mechanism, (not necessary to be shown,) thereby to cause the beaters graduallyand without danger of breakage to work down into the mass of pulp.

In case of breakage of the driving mechanism at the lower portion of the tank that at the upper portion of the agitator-shaft may be brought into play,thus to obviate any stoppage of the machine.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the apparatus of this invention is exceedingly simple of construction it will be found thoroughly efficient in use for the purpose designed and will in a practical manner obviate objections heretofore inherent in machines of this character.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with a mixing-tank and an agitator-shaft, of agitating mechanism mounted for free sliding movement on the shaft, and rotary supporting means for holding the agitating mech anism out of contact with the bottom of the tank.

2. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with a mixing-tank and a positivelydriven agitator-shaft, of agitator mechanism mounted for sliding movement on the shaft and carrying rotary means for holding the said mechanism suspended above the tank.

3. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with a mixing-tank and an agitatonshaft having its upper portion polygonal in crosssection, of a spider having a hub engaging the said polygonal portion, and agitating mechanism supported by the spider.

4. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with a mixing-tank provided near its upper portion with a track, of an agitator-shaft having its upper portion polygonal in crosssection, a spider having a hub engaging the polygonal portion and carrying at its extremities traveler-Wheels to engage the track, and agitating mechanism carried by the spider.

5. In an ore-rnixing machine,agitating mechanism comprising a spider, traveler-Wheels carried thereby,agitator-bars suspended from the spider, and heaters or stirrers carried by the bars, each set of beaters being disposed in break-joint order with relation to the adjacent beaters.

6. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with a mixing-tank having a false bottom including a strainer, of air-supply pipes discharging against the under surface of the strainer to keep the meshes thereof free of any accumulation of slime or the like, and air-supply pipes arranged above thestrainer to effect aeration of the contents of the tank.

7. In an ore-mixing machine, the combination with a miXing-tank,an agitator-shaft,agi-

tating mechanism carried by the shaft, and driving mechanism connected with each end of the shaft.

8. In an ore-mixing machine, the combina= tion with an agitator-shaft, and agitating mechanism vertically movable on the shaft, of a rotary armed support disposed near the upper end of the shaft.

9. An ore-mixing machine comprising the following elements: an ore-mixing tank, a false bottom including a strainer, meansfor discharging air beneath the strainer to keep the meshes thereof free from any accumulation of slime or the like, air-supply pipes disposed above the strainer to eifect aeration of the contents of the tank, a track carried by the upper outer portion of the tank, an agitator-shaf t having its upper portion polygonal in cross-section, a spider having a hub engaging the said polygonal portion and carrying traveler-wheels at its extremities to engage the track, agitator-bars suspended from the spider, and beaters or stirrers carried by the bars, each set of heaters being disposed in break-joint order with relation to the adjacent set of beaters.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PHILIP SCHUOH, JR.

Witnesses:

R. M. ELLIOTT, J. H. JooHUM, Jr. 

